The Bank of Canada has kept its key interest rate at 0.5 per cent as Toronto and New York markets again plunged Wednesday morning on the falling price of oil. .BoC Governor Stephen Poloz seemed to have nowhere else to go as the global petroleum glut threatened to devalue almost everything. Poloz dropped the rate twice last year to help absorb the impact of sliding oil prices, but crude has since fallen even further, hovering below US$30 a barrel in recent days.
East York Historical Society meets Tuesday, January 26
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The East York Historical Society will meet Tuesday, 26th January, 2016 at the John S. Ridout Auditorium at 170 Memorial Park Ave (at Durant Ave). Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m. with the meeting starting at 7:30. Admission is free and this meeting will feature music and remarks regarding a Tribute to Black History Month
Two-car crunch at Eglinton-Bayview Tuesday evening
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The confusing temporary traffic arrangements at Bayview Ave. and Eglinton Ave. E. have caused another accident. This picture was taken at 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2016. Toronto Police Operations says on Twitter that it was a collision between two cars with no personal injury. Readers and those who use the corner by car and on foot say the intersection is extremely dangerous. One says: “The way Metrolinx has set up the traffic flow is an accident waiting to happen. This is not the first nor will it be the last accident unless something is done to ensure public safety”.
The Bulldog was acessible via Twitter at @sbayview
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During a 24-hour server problem which ended Wednesday morning, The South Bayview Bulldog was available through stories posted on Google News and by the links to posts on the Bulldog’s Twitter account: @sbayview.
Tory says SmartTrack needs an LRT leg to make it work
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The layered concerns related to cost and most useful service has led the Mayor to propose an extension of the SmartTrack commuter scheme to the west with a portion of it as a light rapid transit line. The rail line portion bringing riders from both ends of Toronto is said to be sound and is projected, as Tory has always maintained, to carry the most people in the most efficient way. Current estimates for SmartTack, which could be seven years away, is that it will carry more riders each day than GO Transit.. CP24 uses the figure of 300,000 per day. CBC
Postmedia merges operations in Ottawa, Vcr and Calgary
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Postmedia, the national newspaper chain will merge newsrooms in Ottawa, Vancouver and Calgary as it lays off some 90 personnel across the country. But here is Toronto the flagship papers National Post and Toronto Sun will continue to operate in separate newsrooms. CBC
Twitter slowed by international outage early Tuesday
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The outage effected Toronto Police Operations service which communicates with the public solely by Twitter. CBC
16 professional tennis players suspected of fixing matches
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British PM: Muslim women must show faces, learn English
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Muslim women can be banned from wearing face veils in schools, courts and other British institutions, British Prime MInister David Cameron has said. The PM said that he will give his backing to public authorities that put in place “proper and sensible” rules to ban women from wearing face veils in comments which will reignite debates. Mr. Cameron also says that Muslim women must learn English to a sufficient proficiency or face possible deportation. He says the absence of English leaves women more susceptible to extreme beliefs. Polls indicate the public opinion in the United Kingdom runs 90 per cent in favour of women being required to show their faces in the public process such as in court. The Telegraph
GOODWILL: People want to help but have concerns
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The CEO of Goodwill Industries Keiko Nakamura says she has heard from a number of government leaders, including officials in Mayor Tory’s office, and says she is in the process of putting together a “plan of action” that could make the organization viable. She spoke to the media today flanked by members of the non-profit organization’s administration after announcing yesterday that stores across Ontario have been closed because of a cash crisis. It seems reasonable that there will be much positive concern for Goodwill although, as some are saying, the crisis closure of the well-known service body leaves doubt about the management The Globe and Mail writers spin the story toward the cost of rent and union staffing rules as the reason for the failure. “We have to pay rent at all our locations,” said Nakamura. Still, the question remains why wasn’t this seen as it came down the road. See below from TVO’s The Agenda
Police hunt 2 who stole cell phone from woman on bus
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The TPS is asking the public’s help in identifying Mr. Mohawk and Mr. King Toque shown above as they leave a bus on Eglinton East at Warden Ave. On Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at 7:05 p.m. they grabbed a woman’s cell phone before they got off. One suspect is described as brown with a fairly special haircut wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. The second suspect is described as white, wearing a grey jacket, red hooded sweater, grey-and-burgundy toque with KING in white letters. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
Health minister tells Ontario hospitals to cut parking costs
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Health Minister Eric Hoskins has ordered Ontario Hospitals to cut parking costs. Hospitals that charged more than $10 a day will have to offer passes that discount rates by 50 per cent. Dr. Hoskins said hospitals will have to offer 5, 10 and 30-day discounted parking passes starting in October. In recent years hospitals facing staggering costs and pressure from the government on all fronts have taken the opportunity to find revenue from parking. The discounted prices will be welcome but the cost of health care and hospitals will still have to be paid by the taxpayer.